Geography

Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) is a
mountainous island of volcanic origin of the Lesser Antilles in the
Caribbean, south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique.

Government

Parliamentary democracy.

History

Explored by Columbus in 1493, Dominica was
claimed by Britain and France until 1763, when it was formally ceded to
Britain. Along with other Windward Isles, it became a self-governing
member of the West Indies Associated States in free association with
Britain in 1967.

Dissatisfaction with the slow pace of
reconstruction after Hurricane David devastated the island in Sept. 1979
brought a landslide victory to Mary Eugenia Charles of the Freedom Party
in July 1980. The Freedom Party won again in 1985 and 1990. The opposition
United Workers' Party won in June 1995. In 1997, Dominica became the first
Caribbean country to participate in the work of Green Globe, aiming to
make Dominica a model ecotourism destination. Although the island is
poorer than some of its Caribbean neighbors, Dominica has a relatively low
crime rate and does not have the extremes of wealth and poverty evident on
other islands. Economic austerity measures, including higher taxes, were
introduced in 2002. Massive protests followed.